We finished the fight with Halo 3, re-joined it for a side story in ODST and then witnessed its beginnings in Halo: Reach, but it looks like we’ll be heading out with Master Chief once again for a brand new story arc in the upcoming Halo 4.

The series has changed hands from Bungie (the very team that made the original game such a smash-hit) to upstarts, 343 Industries, with a clear chance to take the franchise in a new direction; it gives the Spartan a chance to try out new toys and be approached from a fresh perspective, but will it mirror the successes of old?

It’s been years since the finale of the Halo trilogy and John -117 (the Master Chief) has been floating in suspended animation for some time. What follows is set to be a more personal tale with a focus on his AI friend, Cortana, who has begun to develop an unstable personality due to her age.

Written as the first part of a trilogy, speculation is rampant as to how this game will tie in to later instalments, but we would be wise to not get ahead of ourselves. Going on the gameplay revealed, Halo 4 is looking like a solid title to be taken on its own merit. It certainly looks the part from a technical and artistic standpoint, presenting a world (entitled Requiem) that will be more open and encourage greater exploration, making for a less linear experience than before.

While we know that the single-player campaign will be given a fresh spin, focusing on the relationship between the two leads and delve into the mystery of the Forerunners, it’s the multiplayer component that should have most players talking in the future. E3 didn’t show anything earth-shattering in this respect, but what it did show was more of the same action that fans have come to love.

New weapons, new foes and modern graphics all appear to set this effort apart from what the series has previously presented, meaning that we’ll have reason to get excited come November when the game hits store shelves.

About Chris Morell

Chris is from London, UK and has been gaming his entire life. Having worked on other online video game sites, he brings with him a broad range of gaming knowledge stretching right back to the original NES and Sega Master System. A huge action/adventure fan who'll play pretty much anything except real-time strategy and sport/wrestling titles.